Mixiote Is the Next Installment at Plum Cocktail Bar

The innovative three-month pop-ups at Oakland’s Plum Cocktail Bar (on Broadway and Grand Avenue) continue with the arrival of Mixiote. Chef-owner Alma Rodriguez nurtured Mixiote at the well-known culinary incubator La Cocina, and the fruits of her labor will be available until February.

Look for slow-cooked meats and veggies prepared in avocado and banana leaves—and, of course, craft cocktails at the stylish bar.

FOB Kitchen Finally Set to Open in Juhu Beach Club Spot

Berkeleyside reports that FOB Kitchen will open in the old Juhu Beach Club location in Oakland’s Temescal neighborhood on Friday, November 16, some four months later than originally hoped.

Regardless, the popular pop-up will soon serve its Filipino favorites (think tocino and adobo) along with cocktails and beer and wine on tap.

Albany Welcomes Wildcard Brewing Saturday

The grand opening of Redding-based Wildcard Brewing Co.’s tasting room will run from 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday, November 17, on Albany’s Solano Avenue.

The first 100 imbibers to arrive will receive a custom glass, which can be filled with one of the 10 rotating craft beers on tap. And to further celebrate the opening, look for discounted brews and small bites. The tasting room offers pints, sampler flights, growlers, and beers to-go every day except Mondays.

Livermore’s Shadow Puppet Turns Two

No, the Shadow Puppet Brewing Company and tasting room didn’t get two outs on one ground ball (though that would have been a neat trick). Instead, it’s marking its second anniversary with an 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. party on Saturday, November 17.

There will be 20+ Shadow Puppet beers on tap—plus a special Firkin Cask—and to keep the theme of two going, there will be two different live bands and two kinds of food (Mexican and barbecue) to nosh on.

It’s too good to miss, right?

Nothing Says “Holidays” Like an Ugly Sweater

This weekend, downtown Pleasanton will be the place to show off that sweater Aunt Grace gave you back in 1995—you know, the one that stays tucked in the back of the bottom drawer and your spouse won’t let you throw away.

To make it easier on the eyes, however, Saturday’s Spirit and Sweater Stroll also includes spirits and craft cocktails at more than 20 locations along Main Street from 4:30 to 7 p.m. So for $45, you can shake the cobwebs off that sweater and celebrate the holiday season with those who share in your burden—and who, like you, will put that sweater right back in the bottom drawer as soon as they get home.

Sip Coffee with a Conscience, Thanks to Blue Bottle

Coffee with a Conscience is a special event taking place at the downtown Oakland Blue Bottle Coffee storefront (on 9th Street between Broadway and Washington Street) this Friday night from 6 to 7:30 p.m. For $20, guests will have the opportunity to taste rare international coffees made from beans grown with the environment and sustainability in mind. Attendees will also be able to discuss bean sourcing and tasting notes with Blue Bottle experts.

Thanksgiving Is Just a Week Away

It’s possible that the official start to the holiday season has potentially slipped your mind, and if so, here are some last-minute Turkey Day options:

Yankee Pier on Mt. Diablo Boulevard in Lafayette is serving a three-course, $68 prix fixe ($34.50 for children ages 10 and under) from noon to 8 p.m. Those who prefer something other than turkey and cranberry sauce will be able to happily stuff themselves as well.

ZINO—which occupies the previous FIVE space in downtown Berkeley—can come to the rescue if you burn the turkey. The Mediterranean restaurant will offer a $60 prix fixe ($25 for kids 12 and under) from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. The usual Thanksgiving staples will be available, but other options include lobster, lamb, and risotto.

Lunch—and Charity—at Pleasanton’s Sabio on Main

Among the fooderati cognoscenti—or to put it simply, those who know a lot about high-quality food—Sabio on Main has an excellent reputation. And now that the Pleasanton restaurant has added lunch, it will be easier to see for yourself if the cuisine deserves that level of praise.

Oakland’s Homestead Offers Pre-Thanksgiving Relief

If you’re staring down the barrel of several hours at the stove next Thursday, Homestead (on Piedmont Avenue) has you covered.

On Tuesday and Wednesday (November 20 and 21), the Oakland restaurant will host its fifth annual Dungeness Crab Feast from 5 to 9 p.m. The three-course, $68 prix fixe comes with two options: for an extra $18, another half-crab will be loaded on the plate, and children 10 and under can get half a portion for $34.